Couch to 5k...it's not about speed (thread no 2)

[spookyskeleton]

Thought I would start a new thread for us to continue our chat

Watto

The 5K+ ones are what I'm working on at the moment. Keep stamina til after you've tried (and conquered) the other two.

Might you be better finding a 5-10k app tho? That would get your distance up, which is probably more important than the speed, if you've got a half marathon to do? Think this is what Spookyhas done very successfully. Hopefully she'll be around in a bit.

W6R1 done. I was a bit surprised - it was running for 5 mins, 8 mins, 5 mins - thought it would be more like W5R3 (continuous running for 20 mins). However I covered 3.9 km according to Map my Run so I was probably going faster than before.

Great read girls!!!!

Evening

W6R1 is weird! To go back to walking after running 20 minutes feels odd but it is to protect against injuries and stop people doing to much to soon. Won't be long before you are running constantly with no walking

Yes, I used an app called Bridge 2 10k (google B210k) which basically gets you running for an hour in 8 weeks (I think). It builds on the C25k and take you back to running and walking so the first week is 15 minutes of running with a minute of walking x 3 so with the warm up and cool down you are on your feet for 57 minutes. So it is really good at building up your stamina and then it gradually increases your running intervals. If you have the time to complete the programme then I would recommend it but o didn't see it to the end as my 10k run came to soon so I just had to bite the bullet and do it .

Great morning today - I ran with someone who had a mental block about doing 5k, she truly thought she couldn't do it... and she did . I pretty much had to have a conversation with myself for 40 minutes as she couldn't talk much but I hope my insane chatter helped her

Just got back from W7R1, 25 minutes non stop running. The first 5-10 minutes were hard, then without even realising it got comfortable. I didn't even look at my phone to see how long we had left from about 6 mins in until 5 mins to go.

Spooky - chatter definitely helps me, it takes my mind off the running, even if I'm not participating.

Well done on the W6 run, CruCru.

Not impressed with my armband though. It won't go around my upper arm, and an extender is another six quid!

Well done Chameleon , that sounds great.

I just did W4R2, and enjoyed it a lot more than W4R1 .

I've ordered some running gear from H&M. They seem to take an age to deliver though .

W4R3 completed this morning. Last one before the holiday so time to load the washer with the running gear so I can pack it to take with me. The kids have asked if they can run on the beach with me so it could be quite an experience!

I'm kind of planning to do the W5R1 (3 lots of 5 minutes) a couple of times and see how it goes. I don't want to lose the fitness I've got to so far but I will be on holiday so want to relax a bit too. We will see .....

I've just finished week 4 too! The first two sessions of week 5 look doable (with some pain) but I'm not sure I'll manage the 20min run in week 3. I struggled today with the last bout of 5mins.. And I'm sure my walking isn't brisk enough in between runs!
Is the transmission really noticeable?

Sorry I meant 20min run in session 3

Me and my partner ran yesterday... we did the 20 min run... I didn't think I could do it... but I did... not only did we do it but we smashed it!! my partner asked if I wanted to carry on running because I didn't feel so bad.. so we did! We ran and ran.... we did 5k...albeit in 55mins (I know really slow...) but I did it. I realised yesterday that your body really can take more than ur mind thinks it can. A woman who was walking her dog while we were running said... (she had seen us jogging for about 40mins) I wish I was as fit as u!! that made me feel fabulous. I am 34, mum of 3 youngest 16 weeks size 20/22 and I can run!!

lynnoggs well done one thing you always hear is about 'runners getting into their stride' and it is so true. Once you get to about 20 minutes, it becomes more natural and you can run for another 10 minutes or 30 minutes and you don't feel any worse

Hi all, after some advice please. Have just done W2R1, actually not going to bad. I am quite pleased that although hard I'm not finding the runs impossible!

However I'm funding that my shins hurt when I'm running, anyone know what I'm doing wrong? I have lovely new shoes which fit well and are supportive and bouncy but I guess I have a bad gait? Any tips?

It may be completely different (mine started hurting when running, and then moved to permanent pain), but its worth trying to do some toe flexes as often as you remember - a couple of times a day if you can.

You can do them standing (stand on the bottom step of the stairs), but basically you need to rotate your ankles so your toes move though a quarter circle, from pointed toes to them pulled up as much as possible.

More confessions from me - having done a 5k run on the first day of our holiday, I've done bugger all since... . Have had a lovely time though - very relaxing and have eaten and drank far too much, so it's back to the gym on Tuesday... Am looking forward to getting back in the gym/run flow and might have a go of the next app - really want to build up more stamina so that 5k feels slightly easier..!

I didn't get out for my run today.

had a lot of shit kicking off here. Not been in the mood for it and got a bit stuck at home. Hopefully I will get out tomorrow.

I have just signed up for a marathon.

I haven't told anyone in real life yet - they will laugh.

Please don't laugh.

lovelidl that is fantastic...

Hi Everyone,

I have just re-started this for the now 3rd time. This time it took me two glasses of wine to face it but I did it - yay!!!

How long until you can do it without artificial motivation?

The last two times I have got to run 1 in week 3 before I gave up due to it just making me so miserable, with the run hanging over me all day, miserable whilst I was running and very grumpy, sweaty and hungry when I got home. Does this get better?

The wine version did make it better, but obviously I don't want to have to do that as a usual thing so was wondering if it ever gets better!?

lovelidl wow I have signed up for a half marathon today which I thought was impressive but you have trumped me

starlight I think if you are not getting any enjoyment out of it, it is not for you it is not meant to be torture!

When is your half Spooky? You have probably trumped me, mine is not until May.

I couldn't find a half marathon close enough before that, so decided to go the whole hog.

Morning all.

W2R1 done, well all but 29 seconds of the last run. I went with a friend who is training for the London Marathon and enjoyed the company.will hopefully complete all of the runs in Wednesday. She did mutter something about dojng the Brighton half marathon next February.

Well done to those signed up for halfs and wholes and good luck to you all.

Dotty I am impressed you did a run at all in your holiday!!

Starlight, I am leaning towards agreeing with the others, if you are not enjoying it then maybe it's not for you

Thanks. I know it isn't for me in the same way changing bedding or cleaning toilets. Never liked either of those things or exercise (bar skiing). But I can't just keep getting fatter and tireder in dirty bedclothes can I?

Of all the exercises I have tried it is the only one I have managed to 3 weeks which is actually an amazing achievement for me. And at all times I wasn't doing it or thinking about it I felt much more energetic.

I just want to figure out WHAT makes exercising enjoyable and if it will ever happen, or whether I'll be relying on alcohol (like when I was young and thin, lived on vodka and dancing) or whether there is actually hope.

Where do you run? I run in woods and round the farm and with the dog so the actual place for me makes a difference. If I had to do every run on streets or on a treadmill I think I would have stopped.

sometimes along a river bank, but usually around my leafy residential area as I prefer the efficiency of beginning and ending outside the front door. If I had to 'go' somewhere it wouldn't happen as I don't have a car.

House too small for a treadmill.